Bus or conductor for electrical currents



Sept. 8, 1936.

H C. JENNISON BUS OR CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed Aug; 11,1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 8, 1936.

H. c. JENNISON BUS 0R CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENTS Filed Aug. 11,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Faiented Sept. 9 E93 STATE BUS QR QONDUCTQR FURCURRENTS Application August ill, 1932, aerial No. 628,335

4 Glaims.

This invention relates to busses or conductors for electric currents,and more particularly to husses or conductors for carrying heavyalternating currents, although of course they are also adapted fordirect current, and has for an object to provide an improved built upconductor which is strong and rigid, and therefore requires a minimumnumber of supports in the mounting, which may he ventilated to preventoverheating and permit carrying of maximum current for a given amount ofmetal, and a particular object of the invention is to provide aconductor in which the so-called skin effect of alternating currents isreduced to a minimum so that the conductors may carry the maximumalternating current;

Another object is to provide a construction by which large eiiectiveconductors can be menufactured from the use of simple sections, whichmay be rolled, extruded, bent or drawn by the ordinary methods.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists incertain novel features oi construction, combinations and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully disclosed in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it being understood that certain modificationsand changes may be used within the scope of the inventlon.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a conductor constructed according tomy invention with certainelements shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showing the conductor mounted in asomewhat difierent manner;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 5 a section similar to Fig. i using the same sections of conductorsbut arranged somewhat differently;

Fig. Bis a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a section in side elevation of a modified construction usingconductors of difierent cross section;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 7 showing a somewhat diiferentarrangement of the conductor elements of Fig. '7; r

Fig. 10 is a top plan view thereof t Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 7showing a slight modification;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 13is a transverse section of the conductor built up oi'four of theconductor elements as used in Fig. i;

((UH. Hit-=13) Fig. 14 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 15 is a section similar to Fig. 13 showing the construction of Fig.13 combined with filler elements to increase the current carryingcapacity; and

Fig. 16 is a top plan view thereof.

Heretofore rigid busses or conductors ior heavy currents have beenconstructed of flat metal bars used either singly or with several barsin multiple form to form a composite conductor, or they have been ofmetal tubing. These types of lousses or conductors have manylimitations, the most outstanding of which are in current carryingcapacity, mechanical strength and rigidity and in the high cost offittings for mounting the separate elements and also mounting theconductor.

With the view of overcoming these objections, I

have deviseda built up structure or a hollow conductor, severalmodifications of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, and whichconstruction of conductor has many material advantages over the oldtype.

Referring first to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conductor ismade up of a pair of substantially V-shaped angle members or sectionsi'i which are in the form of bars, preferably 0:? copper or copperalloy, having relatively high electrical conductivity, and thesesections, as will be apparent, are extremely simple and may be drawn,rolled, bent or extruded by any of the usual processes. It will be seenthat these sections can be said to be generally trough shape in crosssection, and the sides are straight instead ofcurved, and in making upthe conductor these sections ii are placed side by side with theiropened or concaved sides opposed so that the completed conductor issubstantially square or rectangular in cross section it the anglehetweenth'e flanges of the sections is a right angle. Of course, if thisangle is greater or less than a right angle, the cross section and shapeof the conductor will he changed accordingly. By angle bar is meant abar composed of two flanges integrally united along one longitudinaledge of each so that the two flanges extend at an angle to each other.This is generally a substantially right angle but is not necessarily so.

7 The convenient way of securing the sections together is by means ofclamps l8 on the top and bottom of the conductor and having its oppositeend portions I9 bent laterally to rest on the outer surfaces of thesections it as shown in the drawin'gs. These end portions it are spacedapart so that the edges of the sections H are spaced from each other toform a longitudinal slot 2t both in the top and bottom of the conductor.The clamps are secured on the section by the means of a bolt 2i runningthrough the clamps I8, also the slots 20. This bolt therefore not onlyacts as a means for clamping the clamps l8 against the sections ll butalso acts as a means for holding the sections ll separated to form theslots 20. The bolts may also be used for mounting the conductor on anysuitable support, such as an insulator 22. It will be evident that thelaterally bent portions IQ of the clamps l8 hold the sections H fromseparating laterally.

It will be evident that this built up construction of conductor iscomposed of various simple elements which can be manufactured at arelatively low cost and can be easily assembled. It also makes a verystrong and rigidgonstruction for the amount of metal used and one thatis stronger and more rigid than would be asolid conductor containing thesame amount of metal in cross section. Furthermore, it produces a hol-Therefore the heating of the conductor by the currents is reduced sothat there is agreater current capacity for a given cross section ofarea of the conductor. These angle sections also provide fiat surfaceswhich facilitate the making of bolted connections of high electricalconductivity for supply and take off leads thereby eliminating thenecessity of using expensive clamps.

If it is preferred that the flat sides of the conductor be vertical andhorizontal the same arrangement of sections and clamps may be turnedthrough an angle of 45 degrees as indicated in Fig. 3. In this case theclamping bolt 2| extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees and thesupporting bracket or insulator 23 may have an inclined lug 24 to whichthe bolt extends. If desired, the insulator may be extended as indicatedat 25 to form a support under the conductor. Otherwise the constructionof conductor is the same as in Fig. 1 and has the same desirablecharacteristics,-and has free circulation of air through the conductorbecause of the slots 20 for cooling purposes, the same as in the firstform.

Although it is preferred that the sections H be separated to providethese slots 20 for circulation of air, I am not limited to .such aconstruction, but may mount the sections 11 so that their free edges 11aabut as indicated in Figs. and 6. With this arrangement a. somewhatdifferent form otclamp and mounting means is provided.

As shown upper and lower clamps 26 extend transversely over and underthe sections l1 and but they neednot be straight but may be curved asshown in Figs. 7 and 11 but are still of general concavo-convex ortrough shape. In these figures the sections 32 and 33 are continuouscurves in cross section, the sections 32 being substantiallysemi-cylindrical or half round, and when assembled with their open sidesopposed form a substantially round tubular section. The sections 33,however, are flattened somewhat so that they are half-ellipticalsections and when assembled with their open sides opposed form a tubularconductor of elliptical cross section. Both of these forms of conductorsare mounted substantially the same asthose shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 7 and 8 curved clamps 36 and 35 extend across the opposed edgesof the sections 32 and are curved to fit the outer surfaces thereof. Abolt 36 passes through these clamps and the slots 31 formed between thespaced edges of the sections'32. The curved clamps prevent the sections32 separating laterally while the bolts 36 hold them in the properseparated relation to form the ventilating slots 31. sides securing theclamps on the conductor section may also be used to secure the conductorto any suitable support, such as the insulator 22. The lower clamp 35preferably has a central flattened portion 38 to form a more stable seaton the support 22. In Figs. 11 and 12 the clamps 39 and 40 are similarto the clamps 34 and 35 of Fig. 7 except that they are shaped tocorrespond with the shape of the sections 33.

In Figs. '7, 8, 11 and 12 the sections 32 and 33 are mounted in spacedrelation to ermit ventilation or air circulation through slots 37, andalthough this is the preferred construction I am not necessarily limitedthereto, but may mount the sections 32 and 33 with their opposed edgesabutting. This arrangement for the sections 32 is illustrated in Figs. 9and 10, and the same arrangement may be used for the sections 33. Thisarrangement requires a somewhat diiferent form of clamp for securing thesections together and mounting them on their supports. In the presentinstance two curved clamps 4| and 42 embrace the sections and areclamped thereon by screws 43 passing through the extending ears 44. Theclamp 42 may be secured to the insulator 22 by any suitable means, suchas the screw 43.

The bolts 36 be- Figs. 1 to 12 show the conductor built up of twoconcavo-convex sections or bars. I am, however, not confined to the useof two sections only,

but'may use different numbers of sections.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown how the conductor can be built up offour of the V-shaped angle members similar to the members ll of Figs. '1to 6. These angles, indicated at 45, embrace the corners of the frame 46built up of four pieces of angle bar with mitred ends welded together asindicated at 41. The angle sections 45 embrace the corners of this frameand are secured thereto by any suitable means, such as the screws 48. Itwill be noted that these bars together form a hollow conductor ofsubstantially square or rectangular cross section and if the edges oftheir opposing flanges are separated asindicated they form ventilatingor air circulating slots 49. This conductor can be mounted in a mannersimilar to that used intheother figures, as by means of clamps 50extending across the top and'bottdm of the conductor and havinglaterally turned ends 5} to form shoulders engaging the outer surfacesof ,the sections. These clamps therefore assist in holding the anglesections against separating and in conjunction with the bolt 52 can beused to mount the conductor on any suitable support,-

such as the insulator 22.

If it is desired to have more conducting metal for the samecross-sectional dimension of conductor as in the construction of Fig.13, flat bars 53 may be secured to the frame 46 between the anglemembers by any suitable means, such as the screws 54. These fiat barsmay be of substantially the same thickness as the webs of the V anglemembers 45 and they may either entirely fill the space between theseangle members or they may be spaced somewhat therefrom as indicated at55 to form ventilating slots and permit circulation of air.

It will be apparent from the above description that in all of thearrangements shown the individual sections I1, 32, 33 and 45 are all ofsubstantially or generally concavo-convex form in cross section and thatin building up the conductor they are arranged with their open or con;caved sides opposed. These built up structures can be made at less costthan could a similar section of a continuous tube, and can be used tobuild or fabricate busses or conductors of practically any size, andtherefore for any desired current carrying capacity. As practically allthe metal is located at or adjacent the outer surface of the conductor,the objectionable skin effect with alternating currents is reduced to aminimum. Also due to the shape of the conductor it is very strong andrigid and therefore can be mounted with very long spans, or that is,with increased distances between the mounting clamps or brackets overthe old types containing the same amount of metal, and therefore asfewer clamps or mountings are required liability of failure or shorts atthe fittings is greatly reduced. They can also be arranged to securethorough ventilation and circulation of air for a desirable coolingeffect. Although as indicated above this conductor is a very greatimprovement and has many desirable characteristics making itparticularly adaptable for carrying heavy alternating currents, it is byno means limited thereto, but may be used for carrying heavy directcurrents. The sections may, of course, be made of any suitablemetal, butare preferably made of copper or copper alloys as these metals have highelectrical conductivity, strength and rigidity, resistance to corrosion,and other desirable characteristics.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. An electrical bus bar conductor comprising a pair of substantiallyV-shaped angle bars arranged with their inner sides opposed to form ahollow bus bar and with their adjacent edges spaced from each other toform longitudinal ventilating slots in the upper and lower portions ofthe bus bar, fastenings extending across said edges and formed to engagethe outer walls adjacent the slots to prevent the bars separating, and abolt passing through the fastenings and diagonally across the bus bar toconnect the fastenings and retain them against the bars, and said boltpassing through said slots and engaging the edges of the angle bars tohold the bars separated.

2 An electrical bus bar conductor comprising a pair of angle barsarranged with their inner sides opposed to form a hollow rectangular busbar conductor, the adjacent edges of the bars being spaced to formlongitudinal ventilating slots at diagonally opposite corners of the busbar, fastenings extending across the slots and having walls arranged atan angle to each other to engage the adjacent outer walls of the anglebars to prevent their separating laterally, a support for the bus barand means for securing the bars to the sup ort comprising a bolt securedto the support and extending diagonally across the conductor between thefastenings to connect the fastenings and retain them against the bars,said bolt also'passing through the slots and engaging the edges of theangle bars to hold the bars separated.

3. In a device of the character described, two angle bar memberssubstantially V-shaped in cross section arranged to form a hollow busbar with the free edges of the legs adjacent, means spacing the freeedges of the legs apart to provide ventilating slots, and said barsbeing mounted with the diagonal between the free edges vertical.

4. An electrical bus bar comprising a pair of angle bars arranged withtheir inner sides opposed to form a hollow bus bar, the adjacent edgesof the bars being spaced to form longitudinal ventilating slots atdiagonally opposite corners of the bus bar, a support for the bus bar,means for securing the bar to the support comprising a bolt secured tothe support and extending diagonally across the bus bar and through theslots and engaging the edges of the angle bar flanges to hold the barsseparated, and fastenings extending across the slots and having wallsarranged at an angle to each other to engage the outer walls of theangle bars at opposite sides of the slots, said bolt extending throughthe fasteners and clamping them against the bars to prevent the barsseparating laterally, said fastenings also acting on the walls of thebars to draw them toward each other and against the bolt.

HERBERT C. JENNISON.

